News Releases and Media Advisories

The Chief Electoral Officer Marc Mayrand today announced the formation of an Advisory Board to provide non-partisan advice on matters related to Canada's electoral system.

The Elections Canada Advisory Board, co-chaired by the Honourable Ian Binnie, former justice of the Supreme Court of Canada and Ms. Sheila Fraser, former Auditor General of Canada, is composed of prominent Canadians representing a wide range of fields including political process, public service, law, media, community and academic leadership.

The members of the Elections Canada Advisory Board are:

Mr. Ian Binnie

Ms. Lise Bissonnette

Ms. Sheila Fraser

Ms. Roberta Jamieson

Mr. John Manley

Mr. Preston Manning

Mr. Bob Rae

Mr. Roy Romanow

Mr. Hugh Segal

Ms. Michèle Thibodeau-DeGuire

Mr. Paul Thomas

Mr. Michael Wilson

Ms. Cathy Wong

The mandate of the Advisory Board is to study and provide advice on matters related to Canada's electoral system including the conduct of elections, electoral participation both by voters and political participants, regulatory compliance, and electoral reform.

"The electoral process is in a period of change and needs to adapt to the expectations of Canadians in the 21st century," said Mr. Mayrand. "I believe that our electoral system will benefit from the informed perspective and advice garnered from such a diverse range of Canadians, with valuable backgrounds and experiences."

Appointments are for terms of up to three-year. Meetings will take place twice a year, with the first meeting taking place in late 2013 in Ottawa.

Elections Canada is committed to ensuring that the Canadian electoral system is modernized and improved upon in innovative and solution-oriented ways. The establishment of an Advisory Board is a step towards ensuring that the electoral system remains relevant and responsive to Canadians' needs.